Apparatus and method for editing and selling creature data

ABSTRACT

A creature data item that is created by a creator through creative activity and an editing material data item that gives an additional feature to the creature data item are registered. The registered creature data item is edited in combination with the registered editing material data item to generate a product data item. Product data items thus generated are presented to clients wishing to utilize them.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to systems capable of editingcomputer graphics (CG) data.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Businesses supplying products and services implement advertisingvia various media, such as television, radio, magazines, papers, Webpages over the Internet, etc. in order to promote the sale and improvethe image of their products and services. Many of these businessesemploy image characters to increase the impact of their advertising,and, in one aspect, they put such image characters on their Web pagestogether with an advertisement of their products and services, keepingstep with the latest proliferation of the Internet.

[0005] In another aspect, CG software (e.g., motion capture, digitalmockup, three-dimensional CAD, etc.) becomes increasingly popular amongordinary users, allowing them to easily prepare two-or three-dimensionalimages on their computer. This implies that potential creators couldeasily produce image character data derived from the themes, such ashumans, animals, or plants, using the CG software.

[0006] By the way, many businesses, having difficulty producing theseimage characters by themselves, outsource such production to specializedentities. Although large businesses could spend much money for theproduction, medium and small ones, unable to appropriate enough funds,would, in many cases, have to give up the benefits they could otherwiseget from image characters.

[0007] Many users of the CG software would be eager about winningreputation by creating works, making their works known to the public,and sending them to “stardom”. However, they only have a limited chanceto make their works public. Moreover, their works, although attractiveenough in terms of novelty, still need some elaboration to be sold as“products”, thus requiring more expense and time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for editing and selling creature data, which canallow creators to make their own works (creature data) public easily onone hand, and clients to be furnished with the creators' works at areasonable cost and within a reasonable period, on the other.

[0009] The above object of the present invention can be achieved by anapparatus for editing and selling creature data provided with: acreature data registering device for registering a creature data item;an editing material data registering device for registering an editingmaterial data item that gives an additional feature to the creature dataitem; an editing device for editing the registered creature data item incombination with the registered editing data item to generate a productdata item; and a presentation device for presenting the product dataitem generated by the editing device.

[0010] According to the present invention, a creature data item producedby a creator through creative activity, and an editing material dataitem that gives an additional feature to the creature data item areregistered. The registered creature data item is edited in combinationwith the registered editing material data item to generate a productdata item. The product data item is then presented to clients wishing toutilize that product data item. Thus, the creator has a chance to sendhis/her work (creature data item) to the public easily, and the clientshave a chance to obtain the value-added, more useful work produced bythe creator.

[0011] In one aspect of the apparatus for editing and selling creaturedata of the present invention, the apparatus is further provided with:an accepting device for accepting a request for purchasing the productdata item presented by the presentation device; and a selling device forselling the product data item for which the purchasing request isaccepted by the accepting device.

[0012] According to this aspect, businesses (clients) are furnished withthe value-added, more useful work produced by the creator at areasonable cost and within a reasonable period.

[0013] The above object of the present invention can be also achieved byan apparatus for editing and selling creature data provided with: acreature data registering device for registering a creature data item;an editing material data registering device for registering an editingmaterial data item that gives an additional feature to the creature dataitem; a presentation device for presenting the registered creature dataand editing material data items; an accepting device for acceptingselection of the creature data and editing material data items presentedby the presentation device; an editing device for editing the creaturedata item for which the selection is accepted by the accepting device,in combination with the editing material data item for which theselection is accepted by the accepting device, to generate a productdata item; and a selling device for selling the product data itemgenerated by the editing device.

[0014] According to the present invention, a creature data item producedby a creator through creative activity, and an editing material dataitem that gives an additional feature to the creature data item areregistered. The registered creature data and editing material data itemsare presented to clients. When selection of the presented creature dataand editing material data items is accepted, the selected creature dataitem is edited in combination with the selected editing material dataitem to generate a product data item. The product data item is thensold. Thus, the creator has a chance to send his/her work (creature dataitem) to the public easily, and the clients have a chance to obtain thevalue-added, more useful work produced by the creator at a reasonablecost and within a reasonable period. Also, both the creature data itemand the editing material data item which are before the product dataitem is generated therefrom are presented, respectively, and hence agreater number of editing combinations can be offered.

[0015] In another aspect of the apparatus for editing and sellingcreature data of the present invention, the editing device edits thecreature data item in combination with a plurality of editing materialdata items to generate the product data.

[0016] According to this aspect, the creature data item is edited incombination with a plurality of editing material data items, whereby thecreator's work can have more additional features.

[0017] In further aspect of the apparatus for editing and sellingcreature data of the present invention, the creature data item is imagedata representing a two- or three-dimensional object.

[0018] According to this aspect, the clients can obtainthree-dimensional image data items for use, for example, in business ata reasonable cost and within a reasonable period.

[0019] In further aspect of the apparatus for editing and sellingcreature data of the present invention, the creature data item is imagedata representing a character.

[0020] According to this aspect, the clients can obtain image characters(based on themes such as humans, animals, plants, buildings, vehicles,and various other objects) for use, for example, in business at areasonable cost and within a reasonable period.

[0021] In further aspect of the apparatus for editing and sellingcreature data of the present invention, the editing material data itemincludes at least one of motion data for giving the creature data iteman additional feature of motion, voice data for giving the creature dataitem an additional feature of voice, music data for giving the creaturedata item an additional feature of music, background data for giving thecreature data item an additional feature of background image, andtextual data for giving the creature data item an additional feature oftextual information.

[0022] According to this aspect, the creator's work can have variousadditional features such as motion, voice, etc.

[0023] In further aspect of the apparatus for editing and sellingcreature data of the present invention, the apparatus is furtherprovided with a remuneration calculating device for calculating,according to sales of a creature data item from which a product dataitem sold by the selling device is derived, a remuneration for a creatorwho has prepared the creature data item.

[0024] According to this aspect, the creator can be more highlymotivated toward creative activity to increase his/her desire to sendtheir works to the public.

[0025] In still further aspect of the apparatus for editing and sellingcreature data of the present invention, the apparatus is furtherprovided with an offering price calculating device for calculating,according to sales of a creature data item from which a product dataitem sold by the selling means is derived, an offering price of theproduct data item.

[0026] According to this aspect, a product data item derived from abetter selling creature data item can be priced higher.

[0027] The above object of the present invention can be also achieved bya method for editing and selling creature data provided with: a creaturedata registering process of registering a creature data item; an editingmaterial data registering process of registering an editing materialdata item for giving an additional feature to the creature data item; anediting process of editing the registered creature data item incombination with the registered editing material data item to generate aproduct data item; a presentation process of presenting the generatedproduct data item; an accepting process of accepting a request forpurchasing the presented product data item; and a selling process ofselling the product data item for which the purchasing request isaccepted.

[0028] According to the present invention, a creature data item producedby a creator through creative activity, and an editing material dataitem that gives an additional feature to the creature data item areregistered. The registered creature data item is edited in combinationwith the registered editing material data item to generate a productdata item. The product data item is then presented to clients wishing toutilize that product data item. A request for purchasing the presentedproduct data item is accepted, and the product data item for which thepurchase request is accepted is sold. Thus, the creator has a chance tosend his/her work (creature data item) to the public easily, and theclients have a chance to obtain the value-added, more useful workproduced by the creator at a reasonable cost and within a reasonableperiod.

[0029] The above object of the present invention can be also achieved bya method for editing and selling creature data provided with: a creaturedata registering process of registering a creature data item; an editingmaterial data registering process of registering an editing materialdata item for giving an additional feature to the creature data item; apresentation process of presenting the registered creature data andediting material data items; an accepting process of accepting selectionof the presented creature data and editing material data items; anediting process of editing the creature data item for which theselection is accepted, in combination with the editing material dataitem for which the selection is accepted, to generate a product dataitem; and a selling process of selling the generated product data item.

[0030] According to the present invention, a creature data item producedby a creator through creative activity, and an editing material dataitem that gives an additional feature to the creature data item areregistered. The registered creature data and editing material data itemsare presented to clients. When selection of the presented creature dataand editing material data items is accepted, the selected creature dataitem is edited in combination with the selected editing material dataitem to generate a product data item. The product data item is thensold. Thus, the creator has a chance to send his/her work (creature dataitem) to the public easily, and the clients have a chance to obtain thevalue-added, more useful work produced by the creator at a reasonablecost and within a reasonable period. Also, both the creature data itemand the editing material data item which are before the product dataitem is generated therefrom are presented, respectively, and hence agreater number of editing combinations can be offered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of acreature data editing and selling system embodying the invention;

[0032]FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the system ofFIG. 1 performed when a CG character dispatch service is rendered;

[0033]FIG. 3 illustrates a sample Web page displaying product data itemson a monitor of a client terminal appearing in FIG. 1;

[0034]FIG. 4 illustrates a sample Web page in which a client utilizes apurchased product data item; and

[0035]FIG. 5 illustrates a sample Web page displaying CG character dataitems and motion data items on the monitor of the client terminal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] Referring now to FIG. 1, the configuration of a creature dataediting and selling system 100 embodying the invention will bedescribed.

[0037] As shown in the figure, the system 100 comprises a creature dataediting and selling unit 1 as an apparatus for editing and sellingcreature data, a creator terminal 2, and a client terminal 3, which areinterconnected via the Internet 4. Although only one creator terminal 2and one client terminal 3 are shown in the illustrated embodiment, alarger number of terminals 2 and 3 are actually connected.

[0038] The creature data editing and selling unit 1 is provided with aprocessing section 10, a communication section 11, a reader 12, anoutput section 13, an input section 14, and a storage section 15, andthe creature data editing and selling unit 1 is managed and operated bya Virtual Production that renders services for picking out, editing,managing, and selling (i.e., dispatching) creature data items. In theillustrated embodiment, “a creature data item” is construed as beingimage data representing a character created by a creator in the form ofa two- or three-dimensional CG image utilizing a computer (hereinafterreferred to as “CG character data item”). The character is an imagecharacter derived from themes including humans, animals, plants,buildings, vehicles, and various other objects.

[0039] The creator terminal 2, which can be a known personal computerincluding input/output sections, is used so that a user can prepare CGcharacter data items. The terminal 2 is provided with a known functionfor creating CG character data items and a function for datacommunication with the creature data editing and selling unit 1 over theInternet 4.

[0040] The client terminal 3, which can also be a known personalcomputer including input/output sections, is used by a client desiringto employ CG character data items for business, for example, on pages ofthe multimedia-supporting World Wide Web (WWW) over the Internet 4, orin promotion videos for introducing their products, etc. The clientterminal 3 comes with a Web browser for viewing Web pages.

[0041] In the above configuration, a CG character data item created bythe creator and prepared through the creator terminal 2 is transmittedto the Virtual Production. For example, the creator transmits the CGcharacter data item to the creature data editing and selling unit 1 viathe Internet 4 from the creator terminal 2, or stores the CG characterdata item in a recording medium 20, such as a magneto-optic (MO) disk,and send the recording medium 20 to the Virtual Production.

[0042] The Virtual Production in turn causes, after examining CGcharacter data items transmitted from various creators, the creaturedata editing and selling unit 1 to edit the accepted CG character dataitems to give additional features (described below) to the data items,so that the Virtual Production can sell (i.e., dispatch) the edited,thus value-added CG character data items as products on its Web pageover the Internet 4 through the client terminals 3. Then, the clienthaving purchased one of the value-added CG character data items displaysthe purchased data item on its Web page over the Internet 4 to promoteand sell its product or improve the image of its product. That is, thecreature data editing and selling unit 1 operated by the VirtualProduction has a feature of rendering services for dispatching CGcharacters (hereinafter referred to as “CG character dispatch service”)between creators and clients, whereby the creators have a chance to maketheir works (CG characters) public without much cost and time on onehand, and the clients have a chance to acquire and utilize CG characters(value-added CG characters) fit for their image at a reasonable cost andwithin a reasonable period on the other.

[0043] Referring again to FIG. 1, the creature data editing and sellingunit 1 will be described in detail.

[0044] The processing section 10 of the unit 1 shown in FIG. 1, which isconstructed of a CPU, includes a data registration section 10 a as acreature data registering device, and an editing material dataregistering device, a data editing section 10 b as an editing device, aninformation transfer section 10 c as a presentation device, an acceptingdevice, and a selling device, and an amount calculating section 10 d asa remuneration calculating device and an offering price calculatingdevice. These components will be described below whenever appropriate.The communication section 11 includes a modem to exchange variousinformation with the creator and client terminals 2 and 3, etc. over theInternet 4. The reader 12 can be a MO disk drive, CD-ROM drive, DVD-RAMdrive, or floppy disk (FD) drive, for example, and reads various datastored in a recording medium such as a MO disk, CD-R, DVD-RAM, or FD.The output section 13, which can be a known monitor, such as a CRT or anLCD, and speakers, displays CG characters, etc. and playbacks voice andmusic. The input section 14, which can be a keyboard, a numerical pad, amouse, a track ball, etc., allows an operator to enter a predeterminedinstruction.

[0045] The storage section 15, which can be a known random-accessstorage device, such as a hard disk drive, an IC memory, a magnetic diskdrive, a MO disk drive, stores an operating system as a program neededto control the operation of the CPU. The section 15 also stores Web pagedata for the Virtual Production in the form of HTML (Hyper Text MarkupLanguage), WML (Wireless Markup Language), XML (Extensible MarkupLanguage), or a text format. The storage section 15 also logicallybuilds a creator database 15 a, a client database 15 b, a CG characterdatabase 15 c, an editing material database 15 d, a product database 15e, and a sales database 15 f.

[0046] The creator database 15 a stores private information aboutcreators who made a contract for subscribing to the creature dataediting and selling system 100, the information including creator ID,password, name, address, telephone number, electronic mail address, androyalty to be paid (described below) associated with each creator. Theseinformation is registered with the creator database 15 a by the dataregistration section 10 a. The section 10 a also handles management overcopyrights of the CG character data created by subscribing creators, inthe creator database 15 a.

[0047] The client database 15 b stores private information about clientshaving made a contract for subscribing to the creature data editing andselling system 100, the information including client ID, password, name,address, telephone number, electronic mail address, usable period for apurchased product data item (described below) associated with eachclient. These information is registered with the client database 15 b bythe data registration section 10 a.

[0048] The CG character database 15 c stores the CG character data itemassociated with each creator ID assigned to each creator. The CGcharacter data item is transmitted from the creator terminal 2 to thecreature data editing and selling unit 1 via the Internet 4 for storagein the database 15 c by the data registration section 10 a of theprocessing section 10. The CG character data item can also be sent tothe unit 1 after stored in the recording medium 20, so that the sentdata item is read by the reader 12 and then stored in the database 15 cby the data registration section 10 a.

[0049] The editing material database 15 d stores material data forediting CG character data (hereinafter referred to as “editing materialdata item”), i.e., editing material data items for giving additionalfeatures to a CG character data item to generate a value-added CGcharacter data item. The editing material data items include motion datafor giving an additional feature of motion to a CG character data item,voice data for giving an additional feature of voice to a CG characterdata item, music data for giving an additional feature of music to a CGcharacter data item, background data for giving an additional feature ofbackground image to a CG character data item, and textual informationdata for giving an additional feature of textual information to a CGcharacter data item. Each of editing material data items is read, forexample, by the reader 12, and then stored in the editing materialdatabase 15 d by the data registration section 10 a.

[0050] The “motion data” herein used means data obtained by dividingeach of images respectively representing various objects into aplurality of components (hereinafter referred to as “levels”), forsetting the position and rotation of each level. A set of motion dataitems representing a series of motions of one level consists of aplurality of frames, and each motion data item sets the motion (positionand rotation) of each level corresponding to a single frame. Forexample, a model of a human being is divided into 17 levels includingwaist, chest, head, arms, and legs. The waist, which is level 1, can bemoved in the x-, y-, and z-axis directions and rotated about the x-, y-,and z-axes. Levels 2 to 17 each are linked to level 1 or other levels byjoints, and can be rotated about the x-, y-, and z-axes with therelevant joints as a reference. The motion data can be generated by aknown motion capture technique, or otherwise by calculating numericaldata and entering the calculated data moment by moment.

[0051] The textual data includes a description of products displayed ona monitor screen, for example. The voice data includes a description ofproducts output from the speakers, for example. The music data includesvarious kinds of music output from the speakers, for example. Thebackground CG data includes data displayed as background images on themonitor screen, for example.

[0052] The product database 15 e stores the product data item associatedwith each creator ID, the product data item being a value-added CGcharacter data item generated by the editing process of combining a CGcharacter data item with an editing material data item or items. Theproduct database 15 e also stores offering prices, one being associatedwith each product data item. The editing process of combining a CGcharacter data item with an editing material data item or items isperformed by the data editing section 10 b.

[0053] For example, when the data editing section 10 b edits athree-dimensional CG character data item in combination with motiondata, an additional feature of motion is given to the three-dimensionalCG character. In this case, the data editing section 10 b divides thethree-dimensional CG character data item into configuration dataconsisting of a plurality of levels, for example. If thethree-dimensional CG character represents a model of a human being, forexample, the model is divided into configuration data consisting of 17levels including waste, chest, head, arms, and legs, and assigns to eachlevel of the configuration data vertex coordinate data and polygon linkdata. The vertex coordinate data consists of a plurality of vertexcoordinates, and the polygon link data consists of a plurality ofpolygon data items. Each polygon data item consists of surface data andvertex numbers. The surface data includes surface color, ambient,transparency, and data instructing whether or not a texture is pasted tothe surface. The vertex coordinates indicate the vertices forming eachsurface. That is, the configuration data is prepared to correspond tothe above-mentioned motion data, and the configuration data is edited incombination with the motion data, whereby motion is given to thethree-dimensional CG character to animate the character on a monitorscreen, for example. In one embodiment, the creator may prepare theconfiguration data and send the prepared data to the Virtual Productionfor subsequent editing process by the Virtual Production.

[0054] In order to “edit configuration data to correspond to motiondata”, the number of levels must be properly matched between theconfiguration data and motion data concerned, and motion must be withina proper range. For example, configuration data for a character havingfingers must be combined with motion data for fingers, or configurationdata for a character having a one-piece chest/waist configuration mustnot be combined with motion data for moving the chest and motion datafor moving the waist. Also, the head should be inclined with respect tothe chest at 45 degrees or less, and its angle of rotation should be upto 180 degrees, for example. If one creator produces both a CG characterdata item and motion data item(s) for that character, it would be easierto edit these two types of data in harmony. Otherwise, it would not beso easy. In the latter case, the Virtual Production intervenes toarrange the CG character data item whenever appropriate. The VirtualProduction and the creators must agree to make such an arrangement undertheir contract. In one embodiment, the number of levels, the size ofeach level, the movable range, etc. may be defined or standardized. Inthe standardization approach, configuration data can be combined withmotion data more easily.

[0055] When the data editing section 10 b edits a CG character data itemin combination with motion data and textual data, the CG character,which is given additional features of motion and text, can move over amonitor screen, with a words balloon for describing a product displayednear the character, for example. When the data editing section 10 bedits CG character data in combination with motion data, voice data, andmusic data, the CG character, which is given additional features ofmotion, voice, and music, can move over the monitor screen, togetherwith voice for describing a product and background music both outputfrom the speakers, for example. The product data item generated in thisway is stored in the product database 15 e by the data editing section10 b.

[0056] The product data item registered with the product database 15 eis then presented on a Web page of the Virtual Production over theInternet 4, by the information transfer section 10 c of the processingsection 10. That is, the information transfer section 10 c has afunction of presenting product data items to clients over the Internet4, whereby a request for purchasing one of the product data items can bereceived from clients via the client terminals 3 to sell (i.e.,transmit) that product data item.

[0057] The information transfer section 10 c also has a mail serverfunction so that the creator terminals 2 and the client terminals 3 canexchange electronic mail and other information with one another.

[0058] The sales database 15 f stores sales results of product dataitems. The sales results are managed for each CG character data, eachediting data such as motion data, and each creator respectivelyassociated with the product data item sold. The amount calculatingsection 10 d of the processing section 10 calculates a royalty to bepaid according to the sales of each CG character data item byreferencing the sales database 15 f. The amount calculating section 10 dalso calculates the offering price of each product data item as avalue-added CG character data item according to the sales of eachassociated CG character data item.

[0059] Referring next to FIGS. 1 to 4, the operation of the creaturedata editing and selling system 100 will be described. FIG. 2 is aflowchart illustrating the operation performed to render a CG characterdispatch service.

[0060] First, when an operator at the Virtual Production causes thereader 12 to read an editing material data item from, for example, therecording medium 20 to enter the data item into the creature dataediting and selling unit 1, the data registration section 10 a of theprocessing section 10 registers the input data item to the editingmaterial database 15 d (step S1). Alternatively, the editing materialdata item can be prepared by the operator interactively over a monitorscreen using the input section 14, for subsequent registration with theediting material database 15 d.

[0061] If a creator, who hit upon an idea of a new CG character,prepared a CG character data item using the creator terminal 2 (stepS2), the creator operates the input section of the creator terminal 2 toaccess the Virtual Production over the Internet 4, and sends a requestfor registration of his/her CG character data with the relevant database(including creator's private information such as name, address, etc.) tothe creature data editing and selling unit 1 via electronic mail (stepS3). When the information transfer section 10 c of the unit 1 receivesthe registration request from the creator terminal 2 through thecommunication section 11, the information transfer section 10 c storesthat registration request in a mail box, etc., and at the same time,sends a membership agreement to the creator terminal 2 via the Internet4 (step S4). In the membership agreement, there are checkboxes forplacing check marks so that the creator agrees to give the VirtualProduction the right to, for example, arrange and/or edit his/her CGcharacter data item, and an area for allowing the creator to enterhis/her password.

[0062] Next, when accepting the membership agreement, the creator,operating the input section of the creator terminal 2, places a checkmark in the relevant checkbox to confirm his/her consent, enters thepassword, and then returns by electronic mail the membership agreementwhile attaching CG character data item thereto, to the creature dataediting and selling unit 1 via the Internet 4 (step S5). Upon receipt ofthe returned membership agreement and the CG character data item, theinformation transfer section 10 c of the unit 1 stores them in the mailbox, etc., and notifies the data registration section 10 a to thateffect. Then, the data registration section 10 a issues a new creatorID, retrieves the sent CG character data item from the mail box, etc.,and associates the retrieved data item with the new creator ID toregister that CG character data item with the CG character database 15 c(step S6). The data registration section 10 a also retrieves theregistration request and the membership agreement from the mail box,etc., and associates the information entered therein with the abovecreator ID to register the entered information with the creator database15 a. The information transfer section 10 c sends, along with thecreator ID and password, the information that the CG character data itemhas been registered, to the creator terminal 2 via the Internet 4 (stepS7).

[0063] In this way, the process of making a contract between the creatorand the Virtual Production is completed. From then on, the same creator,if having produced new CG character data, can have such new CG characterdata item registered with the creator database 15 a of the creature dataediting and selling unit 1 by merely sending that new CG character dataitem together with the creator ID and password from the creator terminal2 to the creature data editing and selling unit 1, while bypassing stepsS3 and S4. In one embodiment, the Virtual Production may examine thequality for registration as to each CG character data item sent in stepS5, for example, from the viewpoint of novelty, etc., prior to theregistration process in steps S6 and S7.

[0064] The data editing section 10 b of the creature data editing andselling unit 1 then acquires the CG character data item from the CGcharacter database 15 c to change its format to one suitable forediting. The data editing section 10 b also acquires an editing materialdata item or items from the editing material database 15 d, and editsthe CG character data item in combination with the editing material dataitem or items as mentioned above to generate a product data item. Thatis, the data editing section 10 b generates the product data item bygiving an additional feature or features to the CG character data item.The data editing section 10 b then stores the generated product dataitem in the product database 15 e (step S8). In this way, each of amultitude of CG character data items created by a multitude of creatorsis given an additional feature or features to be registered as a productdata item. The amount calculating section 10 d fixes an offering pricefor each registered product data item.

[0065] Then, when a client desirous to use a CG character data item forbusiness operates the client terminal 3 to specify the URL of a VirtualProduction's Web page via the Internet 4 (step S9), the VirtualProduction causes, in response thereto, the information transfer section10 c of the creature data editing and selling unit 1 to send to theclient terminal 3, along with its Web page, information includingproduct data items and their associated offering prices stored in theproduct database 15 e after conversion into a predetermined Web format(step S10). In this way, product data items are presented to the clientfor sale. In one embodiment, the information transfer section 10 c cansend CG character data items stored in the CG character database 15 c,and motion data items, etc. stored in the editing material database 15d, as will be described below with reference to FIG. 5. At the clientterminal 3, the client downloads an application program (e.g., a MotionPlayer) for displaying CG character data and motion data in combination,if necessary.

[0066] Upon acquisition of the Web page, product data items, etc. sentfrom the Virtual Production, the client terminal 3 launches its Webbrowser to display the Web page on the monitor to view the product dataitems, etc. FIG. 3 illustrates a sample Web page displayed on themonitor of the client terminal 3. In the sample Web page, a product pane50, provided with areas 51 for displaying a plurality of product dataitems, displays each associated CG character data item prepared by acreator according to how it is combined with the associated editingmaterial data item or items. For example, as to a product data itemwhich is generated by combining a CG character data item with motiondata and textual data is displayed in the relevant area 51 so that theCG character is in a predetermined motion together with a words balloonfor giving some descriptions of the product. In the lower part of eacharea 51, the name of the associated creator and offering price areindicated.

[0067] In the same Web page, a service pane 52 is also presented, whichlists different types of dispatch services available. For example, if aclient wishes to purchase a CG character belonging to a female guideservice and clicks on the Female Guides 52 a in the list using the inputsection of the client terminal 3, such as a mouse, for example, productdata items based on CG character data belonging to the female guideservice are displayed in the product pane 50. An arrow mark 53 indicatesthat the pane 50 is expandable to show more product data items belongingto the same service. Thus, the client can view other product data items(product data 7 and so on) when clicking on the mark 53 using the inputsection, such as a mouse.

[0068] When the client clicks (selects) a desired product data area 51using the input section, such as a mouse, an Order Placement page (notshown) appears on the monitor of the client terminal 3. When the clientthen enters private information (client ID alone if this is the secondtime for the client to place an order for the CG character dispatchservice), usable period of the CG character, payment method, etc. intopredetermined input areas, and clicks on the Send button in the OrderPlacement page by operating the input section of the terminal 3 such asa mouse, the order information (such as the selected number of the CGcharacter, etc.) and other information entered over the Order Placementpage are sent from the client terminal 3 to the creature data editingand selling unit 1 via the Internet 4 (step S11). As to the usableperiod of a CG character item, the client can select one from one month,one year, or unlimited time, for example, and unless selecting theunlimited time, the client decides to renew the usable period every timethe selected period expires. If the client dislikes the purchased CGcharacter, the client may return the purchased product data item.

[0069] Then, when the information transfer section 10 c of the creaturedata editing and selling unit 1 receives the order information and theentered information, i.e. , accepts the request for purchasing theselected product data item, the information transfer section 10 cacquires that product data item from the product database 15 e and sendsit to the client terminal 3 via the Internet 4 (step S12), whereby theinformation transfer section 10 c sells (i.e., dispatches) the CGcharacter (i.e., the product data item) to the client. If the productdata item is generated by editing a CG character data item incombination with motion data, the information transfer section 10 csends a motion engine for moving the CG character on the monitor screento the client terminal 3 together with the product data item. Thus, theclient can easily purchase the desired product data item, i.e., the CGcharacter data item prepared by a creator and given some additionalfeature(s) by the Virtual Production, through the client terminal 3.FIG. 4 illustrates a sample Web page in which a client utilizes a CGcharacter purchased in this way. As illustrated in the sample Web page,the client displays the purchased CG character 54 to advertise a producton its Web page, whereby the client can promote and sell that productand improve the image of that product. In some other embodiments,product data items could be displayed as animated CG characters on thescreens of cellular telephones including those operating under thePersonal Handyphone System (PHS), etc.

[0070] The client's private information sent from the client terminal 3in step S11 is registered with the client database 15 b by the dataregistration section 10 a. The section 10 a also stores informationabout the sold product data items, along with their associated CGcharacter data items, creator IDs, offering prices, etc. in the salesdatabase 15 f (step S13).

[0071] Then, the amount calculating section 10 d of the processingsection 10 references the sales database 15 f to calculate a royalty tobe paid for each creator according to the sales of his/her CG characterdata item (step S14), and stores the calculated royalty in the creatordatabase 15 a for each associated creator. Thus, the more a creatorsells his/her CG character data item, the more he/she would be paid.

[0072] The amount calculating section 10 d references the sales database15 f to calculate the offering price of each product data item accordingto the sales of the associated CG character data item, and stores thecalculated offering price in the product database 15 e for eachassociated product data item. Thus, the product data item associatedwith a better-selling CG character data item would be priced higher, forexample. The information transfer section 10 c of the processing section10 sends, to the creator terminal 2 used by a creator who prepared a CGcharacter data item associated with the sold product data item, theinformation that the CG character data item has been sold, along withthe current royalty to be paid, via the Internet 4 (step S15). Thus, thecreator is informed of how his/her CG character data item is selling andhow much he/she would be paid, and this is conductive to stimulating thecreator toward producing more CG characters. Steps S14 and S15 may beperformed either for each sale or periodically.

[0073] The Web page sent in step S10 may be embodied in various waysother than the sample Web page illustrated in FIG. 3. For example, asample Web page illustrated in FIG. 5 displays CG character data itemstogether with motion data items. This page displays creature data andediting material data items which are before a product data item isgenerated therefrom, providing a client with a greater number ofcombinations as editing options. In this sample Web page, inanimate CGcharacters are displayed in the areas 51, with a list of variousoptional motions presented in a pane 55 below the areas 51. If theclient clicks to select a desired CG character data item and a desiredmotion (i.e., motion data) using the input section of the clientterminal 3, such as a mouse, to send the order information to thecreature data editing and selling unit 1 similarly to step S11, then thedata editing section 10 b edits the received CG character data item incombination with the received motion data to generate a product dataitem and thereafter sell the generated product data item bytransmission. In the sample Web page illustrated in FIG. 5, it would bedesirable to verify the integrity of motions resulting from possiblecombinations of data at the Virtual Production before the page ispresented to clients.

[0074] As an alternative to the sample Web page of FIG. 5, the clientmay select a plurality of motions for a CG character to edit a CGcharacter data item in order to generate and sell a product data item inwhich the CG character is animated more dynamically and successivelyaccording to the selected motions. As another alternative, the textdescribing each motion selectable for a CG character which is displayedin FIG. 5 may be replaced with a skeleton common to all CG characters,so that the skeleton is moved on the monitor screen according to onemotion or a series of motions, either of which is selectable.

[0075] The product data and CG character data items presented in FIGS. 3and 5 maybe enlarged/reduced as necessary, or converted into formatscomplying with generally available plug-in image viewers (e.g., RealPlayer and Media Player).

[0076] As described above, according to the illustrated embodiment, amultitude of CG character data prepared by various creators are pickedout and edited into value-added data to render (i.e., to sell/dispatch)services easily to clients desirous to employ CG characters forbusiness, whereby the creators have a chance to make his/her works (CGcharacter data items) public without much cost and time, and the clientscan acquire CG characters (value-added CG characters) fit for theirimage for business applications, etc. at a reasonable cost and within areasonable period.

[0077] In contrast to the illustrated embodiment in which product datagenerated by the data editing section 10 b, or CG character data andediting material data are presented for sale by the information transfersection 10 c over the Internet 4, in one embodiment, such data may bepresented for sale via various media. For example, broadcasting throughcommunications satellites, broadcasting satellites, etc. may be deployedto transmit product data for display on a television screen so that aclient can select a product data item (or the Virtual Production canaccept a purchase order) over the screen. The order information aboutthe product data item selected using a remote control, etc. may betransmitted to the creature data editing and selling unit 1 via a publicnetwork, and that product data item may thereafter be transmitted (i.e.,sold) to the terminal of the client having placed the order via theInternet, for example.

[0078] In another embodiment, the creature data editing and selling unit1 may be installed in an exhibition and spot sale, etc. for product dataitems (or CG character data items) to display Web pages, such as thoseof FIGS. 3 and 5, on the monitor screen of the unit 1, whereby theproduct data, etc. is presented to clients so that the clients canpurchase product data items (by recording the product data items intorecording media which they brought with them). In still anotherembodiment, product data, etc. may be delivered to ad agencies for salethrough the ad agencies.

[0079] Further, in contrast to the illustrated embodiment in which CGcharacter data items are prepared by creators, editing material dataitems are prepared by the Virtual Production, and both types of data areregistered with the relevant databases of the creature data editing andselling unit 1, in one embodiment, the producers of both types of data,i.e., the CG character data items and the editing material data items,may be reversed, or both types of data may be produced by creators only,for subsequent registration with the relevant databases of the unit 1.In the latter case, both types of data may be produced by the samecreator or different creators. For example, there could be a motion datacreator who acquires motion data items for the dancing and performancecreated by a dancer, using motion capture.

[0080] When a creator prepared an editing material data item, thecreator may transmit the prepared editing material data item from thecreator terminal 2 to the creature data editing and selling unit 1 viathe Internet 4 similarly to the above-mentioned CG character data item,or may store the prepared editing material data item in a recordingmedium and send the recording medium to the Virtual Production. Also,when a creator prepared an editing material data item, the amountcalculating section 10 d may calculate a royalty to be paid to thecreator and the offering price of the associated product data itemaccording to the sales of that editing material data item, similarly tothe above-mentioned CG character data item.

[0081] In another embodiment, the creature data editing and selling unit1 may present only CG character data items, i.e., display only CGcharacter data items on a Web page, for example, for asking potentialcreators to send in their editing material data items, or may presentonly editing material data items, i.e., display only editing materialdata items on a Web page (or display motion of the skeleton in the caseof motion data) for asking potential creators to send in their CGcharacter data items. According to this embodiment, works can becollected from a greater number of creators for registration, and awider range of works better fit for the presented CG character dataitems and editing material data items can be obtained.

[0082] Although the creature data item is described as being a CGcharacter data item in the above embodiments, the invention is notlimited to these embodiments, but is applicable to any types of creaturedata items produced by creators.

[0083] The invention may be embodied on other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Thepresent embodiments therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription and all changes which come within the meaning an range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to embraced therein.

[0084] The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.2000-364742 filed on Nov. 30, 2000 including the specification, claims,drawings and summary is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for editing and selling creaturedata comprising: a creature data registering device for registering acreature data item; an editing material data registering device forregistering an editing material data item that gives an additionalfeature to the creature data item; an editing device for editing theregistered creature data item in combination with the registered editingdata item to generate a product data item; and a presentation device forpresenting the product data item generated by the editing device.
 2. Theapparatus for editing and selling creature data according to claim 1,further comprising: an accepting device for accepting a request forpurchasing the product data item presented by the presentation device;and a selling device for selling the product data item for which thepurchasing request is accepted by the accepting device.
 3. An apparatusfor editing and selling creature data comprising: a creature dataregistering device for registering a creature data item; an editingmaterial data registering device for registering an editing materialdata item that gives an additional feature to the creature data item; apresentation device for presenting the registered creature data itemsand editing material data items; an accepting device for acceptingselection of the creature data items and editing material data itemspresented by the presentation device; an editing device for editing thecreature data item for which the selection is accepted by the acceptingdevice, in combination with the editing material data item for which theselection is accepted by the accepting device, to generate a productdata item; and a selling device for selling the product data itemgenerated by the editing device.
 4. The apparatus for editing andselling creature data according to claim 1, wherein the editing deviceedits the creature data item in combination with a plurality of editingmaterial data items to generate the product data.
 5. The apparatus forediting and selling creature data according to claim 1, wherein thecreature data item is image data representing a two- orthree-dimensional object.
 6. The apparatus for editing and sellingcreature data according to claim 1, wherein the creature data item isimage data representing a character.
 7. The apparatus for editing andselling creature data according to claim 1, wherein the editing materialdata item includes at least one of motion data for giving the creaturedata item an additional feature of motion, voice data for giving thecreature data item an additional feature of voice, music data for givingthe creature data item an additional feature of music, background datafor giving the creature data item an additional feature of backgroundimage, and textual data for giving the creature data item an additionalfeature of textual information.
 8. The apparatus for editing and sellingcreature data according to claim 2, further comprising a remunerationcalculating device for calculating, according to sales of a creaturedata item from which a product data item sold by the selling device isderived, a remuneration for a creator who has prepared the creature dataitem.
 9. The apparatus for editing and selling creature data accordingto claim 2, further comprising an offering price calculating device forcalculating, according to sales of a creature data item from which aproduct data item sold by the selling means is derived, an offeringprice of the product data item.
 10. A method for editing and sellingcreature data comprising: a creature data registering process ofregistering a creature data item; an editing material data registeringprocess of registering an editing material data item for giving anadditional feature to the creature data item; an editing process ofediting the registered creature data item in combination with theregistered editing material data item to generate a product data item; apresentation process of presenting the generated product data item; anaccepting process of accepting a request for purchasing the presentedproduct data item; and a selling process of selling the product dataitem for which the purchasing request is accepted.
 11. A method forediting and selling creature data comprising: a creature dataregistering process of registering a creature data item; an editingmaterial data registering process of registering an editing materialdata item for giving an additional feature to the creature data item; apresentation process of presenting the registered creature data itemsand editing material data items; an accepting process of acceptingselection of the presented creature data items and editing material dataitems; an editing process of editing the creature data item for whichthe selection is accepted, in combination with the editing material dataitem for which the selection is accepted, to generate a product dataitem; and a selling process of selling the generated product data item.